病毒与特发性肺纤维化

Virus and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

特发性肺纤维化是一种病因不明的、进展性的疾病，有较高的病死率，中位生存期仅3年，缺少有效治疗手段。研究表明病毒感染可导致特发性肺纤维化的发生、发展及急性加重，抗病毒治疗有可能缓解症状，延缓病情进展。本文主要阐述病毒感染作为特发性肺纤维化发病原因的依据，并通过肺纤维化动物模型来探讨其可能机制。

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF） is a disease of unknown origin and progression. The mortality of IPF is higher,median survival time is three years. This is due to lack of effective therapies to halt disease progression. Accumulating evidences suggest that viral infection may play a key role in the initiation,progression and acute exacerbation of IPF. It is possible that therapeutic strategies, utilising available antiviral, may be effective in halting the progression of IPF. This article summarizes the evidences for the notion that virus may contribute to IPF. In addition, we review mechanistic studies in animal models that highlight the fibrotic potential of viral infection, and explore the different mechanisms.